Dundalk Buyers Guide

Common Decisions Made when Purchasing an Indoor or Outdoor Dundalk Leisure Craft Sauna

Which of the several sauna varieties available at Dundalk Leisure Craft is best for you? We will start by going over the standard options available to you with practically every Dundalk sauna on our website:

How can I choose the ideal sauna size and wood type?

For your sauna, should you go with an electric or wood-burning heater?

Is a porch or a changing room required for using the sauna?

Is it better to go with a Signature or Lounge sauna interior?

What sort of door is it? Wood, glass, or a tiny window?

As we get more into the specifics of each sauna later in our buyer's guide, having the answers to these questions will help you make the best purchase choice. Now, let us tackle the most crucial query: sauna sizing!

Choosing the Appropriate Sauna Room Size

To start with, how big of a group will be using the sauna at once? There are moments when people overestimate this. It is unlikely that everyone in your large family will use the sauna at the same time. In particular, if your children are older, they will most likely take turns.

The same is true if you frequently have a large group of friends around; most of the time, the men and women prefer to take turns. The saunas are usually used by two persons at a time. This is something to think about if you feel like you need an 8 person sauna.

However, a tiny sauna is also not the greatest option, even if you are just looking for one for your personal usage. More room is advantageous for traditional saunas because it allows the steam from the rocks to spread out more. Even if it were just for me, I might still buy a three- or four-person sauna.

I would not want to go overboard either, as bigger saunas require more firewood and power to heat up and take longer to heat up. These are minor distinctions, but something to be aware of. Large saunas can be quite pleasant in some circumstances, so call us at (888) 442-33-59 if you are not sure. 

Of course, whether the sauna room will genuinely fit where you want it to is another factor to take into account. This is obviously more crucial in indoor saunas, but it is still something to consider in outdoor saunas as well. You should also consider whether you need a location directly outside the sauna so that you can get some fresh air in between sauna sessions. If your sauna area is small, think about making some room available.

Choosing Wood type for Roof and Walls

Red cedar makes up every sauna at Dundalk. It is virtually the ideal kind of wood for a sauna because it is odor-free, weather-resistant, and has strong insulating qualities. It does not get heated when used for benches within the sauna. Last but not least, its low water absorption capacity prolongs the sauna's life even in the event of spills.

Red Cedar Knotty vs Clear Red Cedar

Wood products typically come in two varieties: knotty and clear. The branches that have spread out from that area of the tree are visible through knotty wood. The portions of the tree without any branches are used to harvest clear timber. Trees typically have many branches, therefore a single tree produces more knotty wood than clean wood. For this reason, knotty wood is less expensive than clear wood.

You may also have heard that clear wood has a higher structural soundness than wood with knots. This is usually true if you go shopping for raw lumber. In extreme cases, knots in other types of knotty wood may even come out of the wood itself. It would not be nice for your sauna to have holes in the walls or roof, so Dundalk has taken care to prevent that from happening.

In Dundalk saunas, knotty wood known as "select tight knot red cedar" is used, which means that the knots are an intrinsic component of the wood. The knotty wood in your sauna is just as durable as clear wood because the tree components used in it grew around live branches.

This reduces the decision between knotty and clear to one of taste. Red cedar with knots is a fantastic wood option. Go for it if you appreciate the smooth, clean look of clear red wood and have the necessary funds!

Heaters: Wood-Burning Luxury or Electric Performance?

The choice between a wood-burning heater and an electric heater boils down to what you can use. When possible, we recommend using a wood-burning heater. For some reason, the heat from wood-burning heaters feels smoother. However, there are numerous instances in which wood heating is simply impractical or impossible. Electric heaters are the most common option in Finnish saunas for a reason.

Growing up in Finland, I spent a lot of time in electrically heated saunas rather than wood-heated ones. Electric heaters are simply incredibly practical, especially in cities. You do not have to worry about sizing the electrical heater because we have taken care of everything for you. If you have any doubts, you can always contact us by email or phone (888) 442-33-59.

Changeroom and Porch: More Relaxing Experience

Changerooms and porches can significantly increase the utility of your sauna. There is a reason why saunas in Finland almost always have a changeroom. How far do you want to travel dressed in a towel when using an outdoor sauna, especially if it is far from other buildings? With mosquitos in the summer, rain in the autumn, and snow in the winter? It is so much easier if you can change clothes in the sauna!

Speaking of winter, the changeroom may improve usability in another aspect. When taking a sauna, you should usually take a few pauses throughout the session. Consider if it is cold outside... you may not want to take breaks outside, but sitting in the changeroom is not an issue. You can have complete temperature control by opening the changeroom and sauna doors, creating the ideal temperature room in any weather!

The pleasant temperature in the changing room can be enhanced even further by adding windows that allow you to see outside. Depending on the sauna and heater, you can have different windows in the front, changeroom, and back walls.

Porch depends on the sauna's surroundings. The porch eliminates the need to develop a large outdoor seating space surrounding the sauna, allowing you to just enjoy the outdoors on the porch. It is ideal for relaxing before and after a sauna session. The porch covers the sauna's facade and shields the entrance from the weather.

Since 2020, there has been a new option to integrate the porch and changeroom into a single 6' long room. This is feasible with all saunas that include the changeroom + porch option, including the Pod, Barrel, and Panoramic Barrel.

Bench Options and Interior Upgrades 

Many sauna styles allow you to choose between one and two-tier benches. If possible, choose the two-tiered option. It expands your seating possibilities while also improving your pleasure of the heat. Heat rises upwards, making the top bench hotter, while the lower bench remains cooler. It is highly advised if you have young children. You can enjoy the heat anyway you choose, and your children can relax on the lower bench.

Signature and Lounge Bench Upgrades 

Signature seating is offered in the Barrel, Panoramic, and Pod saunas (regular Luna benches are nearly identical to signature benches). Signature seating is a higher-end option than regular benches, with rounded edges and cedar walls between the bench and the floor. It provides the saunas a smoother, polished appearance. The Signature seating features a flat floor improvement for the Barrel and Panoramic saunas.

Lounge seating is a premium extra that comes highly recommended. It allows you to adjust the angles of the back and footrests, allowing you to truly relax and enjoy the sauna in the way that suits you best. Lounge seats are provided for the Luna, Barrel, and Panoramic saunas, which are 7 and 8 feet long. It includes the flat floor improvement in the Barrel and Panoramic sauna rooms, just like the Signature upgrade does.

You can also select the signature bench on one side while keeping the other bench as is. This is especially helpful in the Luna sauna, where one side can be a 2-tier bench and the other upgraded to the Lounge type. That way, you can have the best of both!

Different door options and solar lighting

You can select one of three door types: the wood-framed glass door is the default option in all saunas. It is an excellent option because it allows enough of light into the sauna. If you prefer greater seclusion, consider a door with a smaller round window. Solid wood doors are another option for complete privacy.

You can also add a solar light to illuminate your sauna entry. This is a particularly beneficial lighting option in wood-heated, off-grid saunas without power!

Hopefully, by now, you have a solid understanding of the Dundalk sauna basics! Next, we shall get into more information about each sauna.

The Specific Choices for Each Sauna

Previously in this guide, we covered the general options for most Dundalk Leisure Craft indoor and outdoor saunas. Now we will talk about how we have simplified your options for choosing these saunas, as well as the main distinctions between them. Finally, we will look at how you can have a full spa experience in addition to the sauna, even off-grid!

It is worth noting that all of these saunas perform admirably as saunas. The choices are based on functional factors such as size and design, as well as aesthetic considerations such as how the sauna looks from the outside. Because these saunas are usually custom built to order at the manufacturer, there are many distinct possibilities with each of them.

Ready-Configured Packages vs. Fully Customizable Saunas

For saunas with the most customization options, we have made things easier for you by creating three ready-made packages. That way, you will not be overwhelmed by the variety of possibilities. You can either buy the ready-made kits as is or use them as inspiration to build your own sauna with fully configurable choices.

Even in fully customized versions, the options are presented so that the choices guide you. On some of our competitors' websites, you are presented with only the "raw" options. The problem is that many of these options are incompatible with one another. You may find yourself scratching your brain, trying to figure out what you can actually choose.

With our customisable items, decisions are made logically, and "impossible" selections (based on previous selections) are not even displayed! When it makes sense to present you with options that may not be compatible, we clearly indicate which ones you can choose. If you would like to speak with a real person about your options, please contact (888) 442-33-59 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST, Monday through Saturday.

Now let us look deeper into the saunas to find which one is best for you. We will start with the newest 2021 design, a sauna that could significantly improve your health.

Hot Yoga Training Sauna

The Hot Yoga Training Sauna is an excellent new choice for dedicated yogis and athletes! It is a modified version of the Outdoor Cabin sauna that works well for improving flexibility and athletic performance. It includes foldable benches, allowing you plenty of space to practice various yoga positions or simply work out with heat.

Of course, in addition to being an excellent training aid, the Yoga Sauna may also be used as a conventional sauna, providing excellent workout and relaxation opportunities.

Buy the Yoga Sauna to improve your health! 

Pod Sauna

The Pod sauna is designed in the shape of a raindrop, combining beauty and functionality. These saunas are 8' wide and have lengths of 6, 7, and 8 feet. We also offer the Mini Pod sauna, which has a smaller square shape (7x7 feet) with fewer options. The full-size Pod saunas allow you to adjust practically everything.

Our choice for most people includes knotty wood walls and ceiling, a wood-burning stove, an 8x7 sauna area, and a changeroom (all included in the Smart package). Sauna room size, wall and roof wood kinds, heater, porch/changeroom, back/middle/front windows, benches, and accessories are all available for modification.

In short, pick the Pod sauna if you want to combine practicality with a distinctive appearance.

Luna Sauna

The Luna sauna has a square design with rounded sides. Luna's huge front windows are one of its most distinguishing features, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a view. Luna does not include a changeroom, but you can choose a porch to maintain your view.

Solid walls are a new option for the Luna, replacing huge windows. Some of our customers admired Luna's attractive outside shape as well as its effective inside design. Nonetheless, they desired a more private configuration, which we have fulfilled: the Luna is available with a solid wood front wall. When combined with the more private door alternatives, this can be an excellent solution in some situations!

Select Luna if you want to place it somewhere with a view, or simply want a beautiful and effective sauna!

Barrel Sauna 

The barrel saunas have a few distinguishing advantages: because they are completely circular, there is less inside room to heat up. This reduces the time it takes to completely heat the sauna. Another significant advantage is their portability: unlike traditional "building-like saunas," barrel saunas may be readily lifted by a crane and transferred, even when completely erected. If you are unsure how long you will stay in your existing house, this can be a significant advantage.

The barrel saunas certainly have the most options. Our standard recommendation is the knotty wood 7x7-foot barrel sauna room with wood-burning heater, changeroom, flat floor, additional rubber roof, and cove (the Smart package). If you want to personalize it, you can choose the barrel wood type, diameter and length, heater, changeroom and porch, extra roof, cove, interior upgrading (benches/floor), windows in the front, middle, and back, and your preferred accessories.

In conclusion, if you intend to relocate to a new home in the future, the barrel sauna is a safe choice.

Panoramic Barrel Sauna

The Panoramic Barrel sauna is one of the most luxurious Dundalk saunas. They are a variation/upgrade to the barrel sauna. Rather than a wooden back wall, the entire "wall" is a window. This combines the benefits of the barrel sauna and allows spectacular vistas such as the Luna.

The only limitation with the wall is that the outside feed wood burning.

Consider the Panoramic sauna if you have a view and may need to relocate the sauna in the future.

Kota Sauna

Kota saunas have a special design that allows individuals to face one other. The alternatives are straightforward: you have two sizes: 8' for 5 people and 10' for up to 8 people. The roof comes in knotty cedar bevel or cedar shingles.

Select the Kota if you want a sauna where individuals may face one other.

Cabin Sauna

Cabin saunas provide a great-looking, uncomplicated sauna at a reasonable price. These cabins exist in both indoor and outdoor configurations. If you simply require a sauna for inside your home, you can save money by eliminating the necessity for a weather-proof roof. Indoor saunas are available in eight different sizes.

The Cabin sauna is ideal for interior use or as a typical outdoor sauna solution.

Eagle's Nest Sauna

If you enjoy the notion of a cabin sauna but want something a little more adventurous in terms of appearance, the Eagle's Nest sauna is for you. It also has more alternatives than a typical cabin sauna, as you may add a changeroom and porch. You can choose between knotty and clear cedar wood, which allows you to save even more money. The heater can be electric or wood-burning, and electric heaters allow for an additional window on the back wall.

Choose the Eagle's Nest for a more adaptable Cabin sauna.

Nice additions to the Saunas: a cedar hot tub and an outdoor shower.

Cedar hot tubs can be an excellent compliment to your sauna. It is like getting a full spa treatment in an off-grid cabin!

If you are interested in heat therapy, a tub can also be used for a cold-water plunge. This is extremely common in Finland, where people swim in ice lakes between sauna treatments. I have not tried it yet, but everyone who has claims it is wonderfully relaxing afterwards. There is a lot of fresh scientific information emerging concerning the benefits of both hot and cold therapy, so it is worth examining.

Even if you purchase the tub, an outdoor shower is a useful addition. You should always rinse off before entering the sauna or tub, so this outdoor shower will come in handy. It can be connected to both cold and hot water like a regular shower.